The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) and its Affiliate Foundations will host Youth Advisory Council Day on Tuesday, May 6. This special 24-hour online event is dedicated to raising awareness and support for the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Councils (YACs), which provide annual grant funding to youth-focused projects across the region.

Youth Advisory Council Day is a primarily online giving event aimed at helping local YACs increase their grantmaking capabilities and expand their impact in their communities.

Youth Advisory Councils are groups of youth ages 12-21 who engage in philanthropy through grantmaking, leadership opportunities, and community service. Through this program, young people across Northeast Michigan are learning about the important role philanthropy plays in building strong communities.

“Our YAC program has quite a reach across our region,” CFNEM Executive Director Patrick Heraghty said. “We have about 130 YAC members serving in 19 different schools across our nine-county service area. The impact these young people are having on their communities is incredibly positive, inspiring, and very much needed. We are thrilled to dedicate a full day to helping them grow their impact even further.”

On May 6, community members are encouraged to visit CFNEM’s website at cfnem.org and donate to the YAC serving their community. Half of each donation will be permanently endowed to grow future grantmaking, while the other half will fund the next round of YAC grants to be awarded in early 2026.

Heraghty added that the Community Foundation will match the first $1,000 donated to each of the six YACs in its service area, helping boost the power of each gift.

YACs supported on Youth Advisory Council Day include:

— Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council (Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle Counties)

— Iosco County Youth Advisory Council

— North Central Michigan Community Foundation – Crawford County YAC

— North Central Michigan Community Foundation – Ogemaw County YAC

— North Central Michigan Community Foundation – Oscoda County YAC

— Straits Area Community Foundation YAC (Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City)

“This program is truly growing the next generation of givers in our communities by connecting them to philanthropy and leadership through the grantmaking process,” said Heraghty. “We have seen our former YAC members go on to become donors, community leaders, and even trustees serving on our Foundation boards.”

YAC grants are awarded through the Kellogg Youth Endowment Funds held at CFNEM and its Affiliate Foundations. Since the program’s start in northeast Michigan in 1995, YACs have awarded a combined $2.6 million to nonprofits for youth-related projects across the region.

As a fun addition to Youth Advisory Council Day, the YAC that raises the most donations on May 6 will take home “Mac the Golden Yak” — a traveling trophy named by YAC members from across northeast Michigan. Last year, Mac was awarded to the Northeast Michigan YAC and made a victory lap across Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle Counties.

To support your local YAC on Youth Advisory Council Day, visit cfnem.org on Tuesday, May 6, between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. to donate online. Donations can also be made in person at the Community Foundation office in Alpena.

Every donation — large or small — helps empower local youth to become active leaders in their communities. Visit cfnem.org on May 6 to support the next generation of changemakers!